Somali Pirates Hijack Crude Carrier

Somali pirates have recently hijacked an Indian ship and used it to launch an unsuccessful attack on a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, according to VOA News. The large crude carrier Elephant is similar to the Saudi-owned Sirius Star that Somali pirates hijacked in November 2008 and held for two months. The hijacking of the Indian ship brings the number of vessels being held by Somali pirates to at least 15. The United States, China, NATO and other world powers are conducting naval patrols off Somalia in an effort to protect commercial shipping.